National Republican., 1887-05-05
A Note and n Letter.

Malone to Col. David A. Windsor, In
closing clipping from a Virginia
paper, with note from Mr.. Robert A.
Armistead, which is also given in full.
From the letter Of Gen. Malone 1t seems
this note came from Williamsburg.
Mr.. Armistead. II there is any such indi-
yidual, is evidently n pluperfect Democrat
and, from his want Of knowledge OF the
present condition of the Democratic party,
he probably belonged to the pliocene pc
Rod. Were Mr.. Armstead living now he
would know that Democratic President
has appointed quite q number of negroes
| to Office, giving them the same "perfect
equality" that the law and the Republican
party has given.
Like Gen. Malone, we do not understand
what Mr.. Armistead means by remaining
legal determinations, unless he alludes to
the tobacco tax. That is one dlscrimina-
| tlon we know Of against Virginis's prin-
cipal product, and 1t ought to be ire
| moved"
The probabilities are that some negro has
| offended the tender sensibilitles Of Mr..
Armistead's nature by "passing 'twixt the
wind and his nobility" or It may be he had
an attack Of collie. AT any rate he should
have addressed his letter "Grover Cleve.
| land, White House, ID. Gu" for that gentle
| man seems TO be removing the "remaining
| legal determinations, II there are any re-
naming.
Possibly, Mr.. Armistead, and we use the
name generally, for we do not know
| whether there is Mr.. Armlstead or not,
may have heard OF the movement to secure
negro votes for the Democratic ticket, and
bis white soul sinks back aghast at the
idea.
| The ecumenical council will have to
take this erring brother in hand, and dis
cipline him gently, so that he may not in.
terfere with its DEGREES. The old method
Of discipline by "the boot" when the leg
was crushed In the boot is changed now,
and they will probably use the new method,
by which the boot, with the leg in 1t, is ap-
piled to the body OF the recalctrant. BY
all means let Mr.. Armistead be punished
by the boot.
But enough of him. Here is his note,
with comments on 1t by Virginia paper:
During the meeting Mr.. southall, chairman
of the Republican committee Of the town,
handed Capt. Wise a letter intended for Gen.
Malone, which Wise tore up HIS action
showed his shrewdness, for 1t was loaded with
political dynamite. Here is the letter, which
Gen. Malone can now truthfully say he
never saw, but which he will doubtless hear
| of before the end of the campaign, as the
Democrats will not allow him to escape
from II:
GEN. MAHoNE-sir: Ex-Mtnister John NJ.
Langston IN his speech here some time ago, said
that you had, in the city of philadelphia met
committee Of extreme Republicans, and before
tics SO far as they affected the negro, Ind that
| you then said that you pledged yourself to the
removal Of the two remaining legal dscrimi.
nations against perfect equality. Is this state.
ROBERT T. ARMIsrEAD.
PETERSBURG, VA, Apr. 80, 1ss7.-DEAR Col.
WINDSOR: VIII you kindly secure the publica-
| tion of this letter in the NATIONAL REPUBLI-
| CAN.
| The foregoing clip from the report OF the
Williamsburg meeting, which has lately fallen
under my eye.
True, never saw this note ofMr Armistead s
or should have answered It, as shall now
and here, and given Mr. Armistead, whom do
not know, whatever of notoriety he may have
thought to gain. What could have been his
object beyond that 1t would seem difficult to
comprehend, as do not know aud as he him
self could not have understood, and as nobody
else will scarcely divine what are (at the
time Prof. Langston spoke at Williamsburg
"the two remaining legal Determinations
| against perfect equality" he would imply by
| this ambiguous statement.
Among other issues on which the contend
ing parties ofthes state were opposed (about that
time) was the Republican proposition to free
| the ballot aud abolish the whipping post.
But no matter which may have beer
'the two remaining legal discrimination
against perfect equality" which Mr.. Armisteat
had In his mind, have this to say:
/. That neither the time nor the mam-
ber of any committeethlt ever met, as stated
in Mr., Armistead's note. can be named, auC
that Inever met any committee amy kind O.
class OF persons In Philadelphia or elsewhere
, | and nowhere ever discussed illegal discrimi
nations against perfect equality" or pledged
myself to any proposition which may bt
drawn from the unintelligible inquiry.
II, That Prof. Langston. whom have neve
met but once, and then in Col. Geo. c. Cor
r hams editorial office. and in his presence
a never spoke in Williamsburg but once. ant
E, | that was In the campaign Of 1882, and If an!
one could believe that he ever uttered au!
- such statement as Mr.. Armistead, now fivt
'. | years afterward, puts In his mouth the wonde
u would be why II has not been brought to tn
k front in all these years of passion, prejudice
and malignant Misrepresentation, which hav
O characterized Democratic campaigns and
a will seem strange to intelligent, fair.minde'
"a people that the statement now made and i'm
puted to Prof. Langston should not, in som
FORM have been uttered when he spoke q
Lynchburg or at Farmville, or at Suffolk O
q at Norfolk, or at Portsmouth, or at Newpor
r News, where he has just spoken or at Wes
t Point or at Richmond, or at Petersburg, wher
t he spoke Immediately after he had spoken O
l.. Williamsburg. Yours, truly, MAHoNE.
, Col. d. A, WINDSOR, Alexandria, Va.